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Disaster Relief Assistance for Immigrants (DRAI)

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The Disaster Relief Assistance for Immigrants (DRAI) project is a one-time state-funded disaster relief payment for undocumented adult immigrants impacted by COVID-19 and who are not eligible to receive funds from the CARES Act federal stimulus payments or from pandemic unemployment benefits. An undocumented adult who qualifies can receive $500 in direct assistance, with a maximum of $1,000 in assistance per household.

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If you live in Yuba, Sutter, Yolo, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, or Mariposa county and would like to apply, please call toll-free 877-557-0521. Our hours of operation are Sunday through Friday, between 10 am to 7 pm.

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DRAI Program - Frequently Asked Questions

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Who is distributing DRAI payments and how can I apply?

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The DRAI payments will be distributed by various community organizations throughout the state. California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (CRLAF) is distributing DRAI payments for individuals living in the following counties: Yuba, Sutter, Yolo, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Mariposa. For a complete list of the organizations serving other counties, please click here.

If you are eligible to apply for this financial assistance and reside in one of these eight counties, you may begin your application with CRLAF by calling us at our toll-free number dedicated to DRAI: 877-557-0521. When calling, you will be prompted to select a language option and then transferred to a live phone representative if one is available. At this time, we are no longer able to accept voicemails from interested applicants.

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I requested assistance by leaving a message but have not yet received a call. Will I still be receiving a phone call?

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Although we are no longer able to accept voicemails from interested applicants, CRLAF is committed to continue calling those who have already left a message with us requesting assistance in the order that their requests were received, until we have disbursed the maximum number of disaster relief payments we are allowed to provide. We are answering live phone calls while also simultaneously calling people who have left a message with us. You are welcome to call our DRAI phone number to try speaking with a live phone representative regardless of whether you have already left us a voicemail or online inquiry. Please note that disaster relief payments are not guaranteed. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

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What days and times are caseworkers available to speak with applicants?

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Our caseworkers are taking live calls Sunday through Friday, between 10 am to 7 pm. Additionally, we have caseworkers calling applicants who had requested a call from us while it was still possible to request such a call. These caseworkers will try to call applicants during the times they indicated they had availability. Applicants can trust that the call is coming from us if they see “CRLAF” or “(916) 619-8355” as the caller ID on their phone.

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How long do I have to apply for DRAI?

Assistance with enrollment will be available starting May 18, 2020 and distributed until the funds are exhausted or until June 30, 2020 at the latest. Applicants will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Given the economic hardship that many undocumented adults are experiencing due to COVID-19, this disaster relief assistance may be exhausted within a very short period. We encourage you to apply early.

How do I know if I am eligible to receive a DRAI payment?

To be eligible for a DRAI payment, an individual must provide documentation showing that they (1) are an undocumented adult (18 or older); (2) are not eligible for federal COVID-19 related assistance, including CARES Act stimulus payments or pandemic unemployment benefits; and, (3) have experienced a hardship as a result of COVID-19. If you have questions about whether you meet these criteria, please contact CRLAF to request assistance by calling 877-557-0521.

Will the information and documentation I provide to CRLAF be confidential?

Yes. All information and documentation provided will be kept confidential and secure. The information you provide to CRLAF will only be used to confirm your eligibility and provide the assistance to you. We will provide general demographic information (e.g. age, gender, preferred language, etc.) to the State of California about applicants, but none of your personal information (e.g. name, address, etc.) will be given to or accessible by any government agency.

What documentation will I need to provide to demonstrate my eligibility?

Applicants must provide information and documentation to verify their identity, home or mailing address, and to show they have been impacted by COVID-19.

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In what languages is CRLAF offering its DRAI enrollment services?

CRLAF currently has DRAI caseworkers who speak English, Spanish, Mixteco, Russian, Punjabi, Cantonese, and Mandarin. We will soon have caseworkers who speak other languages and will update this FAQ accordingly. Our caseworkers will utilize professional and confidential interpretation services to serve applicants who do not comfortably speak any of the languages supported by our caseworkers.

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What can applicants expect once they are on the phone with a DRAI caseworker?

During our call(s) with an applicant, the applicant’s caseworker will ask the applicant questions about eligibility and other demographic or contact information. The caseworker will then assist the applicant in preparing and submitting the necessary documentation to verify identity and demonstrate eligibility.

Once the application is complete and all necessary documentation has been provided, CRLAF will review the documentation to confirm eligibility. If the application is approved, we will mail the applicant an unactivated payment card and the applicant will receive further instructions for activating the card.

How much money can I receive from DRAI?

Eligible undocumented adult immigrants may receive a one-time COVID-19 disaster relief payment at a value of $500. A maximum of two undocumented adults per household can each receive a $500 disaster relief payment for a total of $1,000 in financial assistance per household. A household is defined as individuals who live and purchase and prepare meals together. Applicants will be assisted and approved for the disaster relief payments on a first-come, first-served basis.

What can I do to help someone I know apply for DRAI with CRLAF?

If you are helping someone who may be eligible for DRAI, you can assist them with collecting the correct documentation to establish they meet the program’s eligibility criteria. You can also help by showing them how to clearly photograph their documentation and send their photographs via text message to a phone number we will share with them.

A DRAI applicant will need to provide information and documentation verifying that they (1) are an undocumented adult (18 or older); (2) are not eligible for federal COVID-19 related assistance, like the CARES Act tax stimulus payments or pandemic unemployment benefits; and, (3) have experienced a hardship as a result of COVID-19. An applicant will also need documentation verifying their home or mailing address.

Additionally, you can help an applicant prior to their call with us by explaining the application procedures that CRLAF is required to follow, as described on this FAQ page.

If you are available when we speak with the applicant to begin their application, you can join our conversation with them if you have their permission to do so. We unfortunately cannot speak exclusively with you on their behalf because CRLAF is required to speak directly with each applicant about their application.

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Is there anything else I can do to help someone I know apply for DRAI with CRLAF?

CRLAF is required to ensure that all DRAI applicants receive application assistance directly from our staff. Unfortunately, this means we face limitations in our ability to partner with other trusted community organizations to administer this project. If you have a suggestion for ways in which your community organization can partner with CRLAF to make this program more accessible to the community you serve, please contact us directly so we can discuss further. We appreciate your commitment to this population and for anything you can do to make the application process easier for individual applicants.

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Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.